Elliott Smith wakes up in the hospital with a head injury - and an invisible companion. At first, he's convinced "John" is just a figment of a damaged brain, but when he's fully recovered John is still around and desperate to find out who he is. Reluctantly, Elliott agrees to help and discovers Chicago PD has a John Doe on their hands with six bullets in him - who died in the ER at the same time Elliott was there.

Hoarfrost: Whyborne & Griffin, Book 6

Sorcerer Percival Endicott Whyborne and his husband, Griffin Flaherty, have enjoyed an unprecedented stretch of peace and quiet. Unfortunately, the calm is shattered by the arrival of a package from Griffin's brother, Jack, who has uncovered a strange artifact while digging for gold in Alaska. The discovery of a previously unknown civilization could revive the career of their friend, Dr. Christine Putnam, or it might kill them all if the hints of dark sorcery surrounding the find are true.

The Mating of Michael

Everyone admires Michael Lamont for being a nurse, but his part-time work as a gay sex surrogate not only raises eyebrows, it's cost him relationships. Michael is small, beautiful, and dedicated to working with people who need him. But what he really wants is a love of his own. He spends most of his time reading science fiction, especially books written by his favorite author and long-time crush, the mysteriously reclusive J.C. Guise.

Aaron's Wait: Elliott Smith Mystery, Book 2

Aaron Stiles is dead. He's been dead for four years, but doesn’t seem to know it. He's waiting for his partner Bill to come home, and until that happens, he’s not going anywhere. The trouble is, Bill Somers won't be coming home - ever - because he's dead, too. The official verdict was suicide, but...

Mine

Trevan Bean has a job that's going from illegal to frightening, a boyfriend who may not be in his right mind, and a guardian angel who might actually be evil incarnate. Add to that the reappearance of his boyfriend's estranged family, death threats, kidnapping, and the struggle of saving money to realize a dream, and Trevan has a lot on his plate. But Trevan is up to the challenge: he promised Landry a happily ever after, and Landry's going to have it if it kills him! It just might.

Camp Hell: PsyCop, Book 5

Victor Bayne honed his dubious psychic skills at one of the first psych training facilities in the country, Heliotrope Station, otherwise known as Camp Hell to the psychics who've been guests behind its razorwire fence.

Foxe Hunt: The Skyler Foxe Mysteries, Book 2

High school English teacher Skyler Foxe finally hooks up with gorgeous assistant football coach Keith Fletcher. But is the man what he seems to be? Skyler still has his doubts when he spies Keith in some shady circumstances. And there are still some unanswered questions as to what exactly is going on at the high school. Who thought high school could be so sinister?

The Only Easy Day: Sanctuary, Volume 2

Dale MacIntyre works for Sanctuary. He's the acting handler for a member of the Bullen family's inner circle. He is close to obtaining the evidence he needs to prove Elisabeth Costains death was ordered by them... until someone gets in his way. Joseph Kinnon is back on US soil for the first time in months, and he is told the tragic news that his stepsister is dead. He is determined to find out who murdered her... until someone gets in his way.

The 9th Man: 2nd Edition (Dick Hardesty Mysteries)

A serial killer is stalking the gay community and the police are largely ignoring them because all the victims are gay. Dick Hardesty takes on the job of bringing the real killer to justice as part of his first experience as a gay detective.

Heart of the Race

Varro Dacien spends his life riding toward the next adventure. Brian Christie, his best friend and touchstone, the one person who's always truly seen him, plays sidekick on these madcap adventures and subsequent trips to the hospital until he can't take it anymore. While Brian can see Varro, Varro has never caught on that he's breaking his best friend's heart.

The Hired Man: A Dick Hardesty Mystery: Dick Hardesty Series

In the continuing saga of Dick Hardesty, gay P.I., he is hired to protect the interests of a gay/bisexual escort service when a client is murdered. Lovers of murder mysteries will find the complex twists and turns fascinating. This audiobook breaks new ground by being the first mystery novel to make bisexuality an issue in solving a crime.

Fire and Ice: Carlisle Cops, Book 2

Carter Schunk is a dedicated police officer with a difficult past and a big heart. When he's called to a domestic disturbance, he finds a fatally injured woman and a child, Alex, who is in desperate need of care. Child Services is called, and the last man on earth Carter wants to see walks through the door. Carter had a fling with Donald a year ago and found him as cold as ice since it ended.

Knight of Ocean Avenue

How can you be 25 and not know you're gay? Billy Ballew runs from that question. A high school dropout, barely able to read until he taught himself, Billy's life is driven by his need to help support his parents as a construction worker, put his sisters through college, coach his Little League team, and not think about being a three-time loser in the engagement department. Then, in preparation for his sister's big wedding, Billy meets Shaz - alias Chase Phillips - a rising-star celebrity stylist who defines the word gay.

The Butcher's Son: A Dick Hardesty Mystery, Book 1

In the beginning… Did the rabidly homophobic chief of police with political ambitions murder one of his identical-twin sons for being gay? And what secrets does the surviving twin hold? Dick Hardesty, working for the public relations firm charged with helping the chief in his run for governor, is assigned the task of being liaison with the chief's dysfunctional family. Can he pick his way through the skeletons in the chief's closet in time to derail the man's political plans?

The Bar Watcher

When the manager of an elite local bath is stabbed to death, attorney Glen O'Banyon hires Dick Hardesty to check into it. The motive for the murder isn't hard to figure - Comstock was a jerk of the first order. In fact, the list of people who might have wanted him dead might be larger than the club's membership roster. Then, two obnoxious bar hoppers die in an apparent accident that turns out to be another murder, and when a third unpleasant individual meets an untimely demise, Dick begins to see a sinister pattern. All of the victims, prior to their deaths, had behaved badly in one of the local bars.

Body Art: A Thriller

Does everyone have a certain "type" they end up with, whether they want to or not? If Ray Carlucci's ex is anything to go by, Ray likes his men gorgeous, rebellious, and chock-full of issues. But now that Ray is single again, he has a shot at a fresh start - a very fresh start, since his tattoo shop was gutted by repo men and he can fit all his belongings in the trunk of a taxi.

Sultry Sunset: Mangrove Stories

When Mike came to Mangrove two years ago, Hutch gave him a job and a place to stay in his guesthouse, where Mike has remained ever since. Despite the rumors circulating about them, Hutch knows Mike is straight and looking for the right woman. But his friends disagree, and after some hints to the contrary, even Hutch finally has to admit that maybe the rest of the town sees something he's been missing.

The Lion and the Crow

Sir Christian Brandon was raised in a household where he was hated for his unusual beauty and for his parentage. Being smaller than his six brutish half-brothers, he learned to survive by using his wits and his gift for strategy, earning him the nickname the Crow.

Caesar's Fall: An Elliott Smith and John Mystery

With a new building to restore and his relationship with Steve growing more serious, the last thing Elliott needs is someone else's problem, but when lottery millionaire Bruno Caesar moves into his building he can't just ignore the man's pleas for help. Then Bruno's life comes to an abrupt end when he falls from his balcony. There's only one problem-he was terrified of heights…and never went onto the balcony.

Desert Tryst: 1Night Stand

The cat-and-mouse game between professional assassin Dmitri Dzerzhinsky and FBI Special Agent Thomas Dalton may be developing into something more, at least for Dmitri. Blurring which side Dmitri's on can't continue. Hoping to get rid of his desire for Thomas, Dmitri goes to 1Night Stand for help.

Safe in His Arms

In the late-night quiet of the caravan park shower room, Lon Taylor washes away the filth of the Western Australian mines. He's not looking for anyone, but when Casey offers, Lon doesn't turn him down. Welcoming the young man in his big, hairy arms, Lon provides a safety to Casey that he has never known, and Casey wants to stay forever. Still reeling from the breakup of his family years ago, Lon's not sure he's ready for the responsibility of the comfort and security Casey craves.

The Good Cop: A Dick Hardesty Mystery

One of the residual spots of conflict in gay rights is the police force, and this audiobook confronts that conflict head-on with the murder of a gay policeman and the investigation by the inimitable Dick Hardesty. We meet many of the familiar characters and get to know Jonathan, a young hustler who becomes more than a casual acquaintance. The entire police force is suspect in this community mystery of intrigue and murder.

Sam and Aaron: Men of Smithfield

With our family's legacy, Meyers B&B, in the flailing hands of me, Sam Meyers, and my sister, Wynne, we're determined to revive the place. We've started a series of blind-date cooking classes and taken on our first boarder. Granddad is even now rolling in his grave. Signed up for the class is our new guest, Aaron Saunders, a Californian transplant who's distractingly handsome and clearly up to no good. I can't quite figure him out. He blew into town and has been relentless in his search for...something.

Channeling Morpheus for Scary Mary

Michael is a waif in eyeliner who's determined to wipe vampires off the face of the earth. Wild Bill's got the hots for Michael and will stop at nothing to go home with him. Forget about moonlit castles and windswept moors. These bad boys haunt all-night diners and cheap motels, cut-rate department stores and long, lonely stretches of the interstate.

Publisher's Summary

Elliott Smith wakes up in the hospital with a head injury - and an invisible companion. At first, he's convinced "John" is just a figment of a damaged brain, but when he's fully recovered John is still around and desperate to find out who he is. Reluctantly, Elliott agrees to help, and discovers Chicago PD has a John Doe on their hands with six bullets in him - who died in the ER at the same time Elliott was there.

As Elliott digs deeper into the mystery of John, he stumbles on a body hidden behind a wall for 80 years, meets a sexy artist who could become more than just a one-night stand, and uncovers a deadly secret that has haunted a nun for two decades.

Although a fairly easy mystery to figure out, this was non-the-less entertaining. I enjoy the author's writing style, the plot, and the characters. Elliot especially was my favorite along with Steve and Brad.

And, even though the performance was decent, I felt the voice sounded a bit too old for the characters who were around 38 years and younger.

Would you consider the audio edition of His Name Is John to be better than the print version?

I'm not sure that the audio edition could be considered a better experience. The narrator had a unique rhythm to his reading that was somewhat distracting at times. After 30 minutes or so I'd grown used to it and was able to follow the story. Honestly, I liked the story so much I will probably buy the print versions of the others just to finish the series!

What did you like best about this story?

I'm a sucker for ghost stories, but I also loved that the romance developed seamlessly without taking away from the plot of the mystery. Elliot and Steve didn't fall madly in love at first sight. Elliot questioned his sanity when he heard John's voice, who wouldn't?

Dorien Grey has a plays with language in a way that most writers only attempt and usually awkwardly. The remarkable descriptions of physical locations and the characters emotions will definitely have me buying another Eliot Smith mystery.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Jim Hickey?

I would not seek out a book narrated by Jim Hickey, but I would not avoid a book that he narrated either. I have listened to hundreds of audiobooks and there have been some that I have not finished because of the narration. That was definitely not the case here, but the rhythm was somewhat unusual.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I really enjoyed the way John's identity was slowly revealed not only to the reader, but also to John.

Any additional comments?

I listened to the audio version of His Name is John. I have to say that I really enjoyed the story a great deal and that I definitely look forward to reading the rest of the series! Not many people can use language as well as Dorien Grey and I found the characters engaging.

I loved the manner in which Elliot's relationship with Steve developed as it didn't take away from the focus of the story which was figuring out John's actual identity. My only issue was that the narrator took some getting used to. I have listened to hundreds of audiobooks and there have been some that I have not finished because of the narration. That was definitely not the case here, but the rhythm was somewhat unusual. Overall, I really enjoyed the experience and will listen to it again!

I truly loved the story but was lost by the somewhat automated voice overs when it wasn't needed. Also the story being told through the the eyes of a 38 year old but the narrator resembles a grandfather reading to his young grandchildren. Although I loved the book, I probably will not purchase another book read by this narrator.

Dorien Grey generally writes a good mystery (see Dick Hardesty series) but this first book has fallen short. Unlike his other series I figured out who, both ghost & killer, early on in the book and spent the rest of the time waiting for the writing to catch up to me. I'm not real fond of Jim Hickey as the narrator, his style seems to be that of someone telling a story to a child, but the voice effects were good. So while I was put off, it was not enough to stop me from getting the next book in the series. I am hoping that the next book won't be so transparent, and that they might decide on a different narrator in the future.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from His Name Is John?

I only got about an hour in, before I gave up. But the whole apartment scene when he just gets home from the hospital seems pointless.

Any additional comments?

This might have been able to be saved with a better narrator, because the voices he did were just ridiculous. But it was a horrible narration with what seemed like decent to sub-par writing, so there was no way I was wasting my time on this. Which makes me really sad, because I love these types of books.

In His Name Is John, prolific author Dorien Grey has achieved the rarity few writers enjoy, which is developing a solid first novel in another series daringly different than Grey’s wildly popular Dick Hardesty private investor mysteries.

Once again, Grey has created a colorful cast of characters we love and despise, beginning with the introduction of a middle-age Elliott Smith, a rather mild-mannered man whose vocation is real estate development in the Chicago area. Elliott and his rather motherly sister are siblings of wealthy parents who appear more interested in traveling the world and keeping up appearances than in spending time with their children and grandchildren.

Although he is from wealth and privilege, Elliott has achieved wealth of his own by investing in historical, architecturally significant buildings to rehab and sell for profit. A great backstory that provides a solid foundation for the novel that quickly bursts to the forefront when a decades old skeleton is discovered behind a brick wall in the basement of Elliott’s latest project.

Have you listened to any of Jim Hickey’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but I certainly will listen to any Hickey narrates in the Elliott Smith series.

If you could take any character from His Name Is John out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Elliott Smith because he's a very interesting character and we share the same love for old architecture and desire to restore historical properties to their former glory - Elliott has the resources; I have the desire.

Any additional comments?

Dorien Grey has written an extraordinarily, inventive, highly imaginative mystery within a mystery, complete with well-developed characters and tightly plotted prose. The incredible talent of narrator, Jim Hickey, makes this already terrific novel an even more enjoyable listen. Those listening to the audio version of His Name Is John will quickly slip into a comfortable zone hearing Hickey’s words, the perfect choice of narrator for this novel, not to mention lending the right voice to Elliott Smith’s character. I am looking forward to reading more Elliott Smith mysteries and hope Grey continues with Jim Hickey as narrator for future audio releases.

Yes, an interesting story approach, but characters need to be fleshed out more.

What did you like best about this story?

The evolution of John as an individual, almost like an infant learning to walk and talk.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Jim Hickey?

Probably, not a particularly dynamic reader but liked the way the audio was changed when addressing telephone calls.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The very end, when John's voice came across as his own rather than a conversation in Elliott's mind.

Any additional comments?

Normally, I do not care for explicit "sex scenes" in books; however, Elliot's relationship with Steve comes across very flat and not very believable. I think the book would have benefited greatly from more detail on the relationship.

Where does His Name Is John rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

"His Name Is John" is one of the better audio book stories I have listened to. The story is well written, interesting and paced just right (not to slow). It definitely captures your interest right from the start.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Of course, Elliott Smith. He is an interesting character. The author gives you just enough information and background info in the beginning few chapters to get you hooked and keep you wanting to come back for more. He is a regular guy despite his very rigid and formal upbringing. He is a loveable, relateable guy. He has a sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew who love him and friends who like his company. He works hard at something he loves to do but alwys has time to enjoy his life and his family.I really liked how Elliott was not overly worried about the appearance of John in his life and regarded it as just another thing he needed to find answers to and continue on with his life while he tried to do that. He knew there had to be a reason John was there and it was just a matter of figuring it out. A detective at heart.

Have you listened to any of Jim Hickey’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Elliott realized that he actually was going to miss John just a little now that they had resolved the mystery of who he was and who had killed him and why. He had actually come to like John's company, even though sometimes his company was a little awkward for Elliott.

Any additional comments?

Mr. Grey's writing is a style that flows nicely. His characters are always just regular people with something just a little extra-ordinary happening in their lives. He makes us feel like we are a part of his character's lives in some way and we root for them to find their resolution in the end. This book is a good beginning to what promises to be a fun series to read. I look forward to the chance to read the next Elliott Smith mystery.

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